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Election of 1860
Republican Abolitionist Abraham Lincoln was elected president of the United States of America. This victory caused several Southern states to secede soon after in fear of losing Congressional power. -
The South Secedes
In fear of losing Congressional power, several Southern states began to secede from the Union after Abraham Lincoln became president. South Carolina seceded on December 20, 1860. Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas followed on February 1, 1861. -
Confederate States of America
Soon after the secession of the South, a new government is formed in Montgomery, Alabama. The new government is named the Confederate States of America, or the Confederacy. Jefferson Davis is elected the new leader, and a constitution is written. -
The Battle of Fort Sumter
The Battle of Fort Sumter was the spark of the Civil War. The Confederates surprised the Union by bombarding Fort Sumter at Charleston Harbor. The fort surrendered, and Abraham Lincoln declared that the Civil War had begun. -
First Battle of Bull Run
The Battle of Bull Run was the first major battle between the Confederacy and the Union. Along the Bull Run stream, the Confederates were driven back. Behind General Thomas Jackson, the Confederacy regrouped and gathered more troops. This casued to Union troops to retreat. -
The Battle of Shiloh
General Ulysses S. Grant of the Union headed for Tennessee. The Confederacy pushed the Union back by surprising the Union army. Overnight, General Grant gathered more soldiers and attacked the Confederacy the next day. This forced the Confederacy to retreat. -
fell unsuccessfully. The Confederacy had prevailed again at the Second Battle of Bull Run.
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Fighting Continues in the Seven Days Battle
General Robert E. Lee of the Confederacy attacked General George B. McClellan of the Union. The Union caused the Confederacy several deaths and injuries, but they ended in defeat. After General McClellan was forced to retreat, General John Pope was instucted to take the Union troops to Virginia. On this trek, the Union was attacked unexpectedly, and the army -
The Battle of Antietam
General Lee began a journey to Maryland with his Confederate troops. Once they reached this location, a battle between the two armies began along the Antietam Creek. It was an important Union victory. It was the bloodiest battle in United States History; General Lee lost almost 1/3 of his troops. -
Emacipation Proclamation
The Emancipation Proclamation, a document which allowed slaves living in nonoccupied areas of the Union to gain freedom, was issued after the Battle of Antietam. This proclamation even granted African Americans to right to fight as Union soldiers. -
Siege of Vicksburg
New Orleans was captured and several port cities were captured as well by David Farragut, a Union naval officer. The Confederacy were son forced to surrender after Union General Grant sieged Vicksburg, Mississippi. -
(continued) to continue fighting for our country.
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Battle of Gettysburg
The Union and the Confederacy met in the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, as General Lee was moving South through Pennsylvania. The Union line was pushed back, and as a result the Union attacked the Confederacy. General Lee instucted General George Pickett to lead Pickett's Charge. The Confederacy soon retreated. The Gettysburg address was written by Abraham Lincoln soon after to encourage the Union -
Robert E. Lee Surrenders
Through the siege of Petersburg, Virginia, Confederate losses, and Lincoln's reelection, General Grant and Lee eventually met in Petersburg. The Union army began breaking through the Confederacy's forces. General Lee surrenderred once he saw his poor standpoint in the war at the Appomattox Courthouse.
